Scientist Biography Research Project

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Scientist Biography Research Project

This project will be a whole class effort. It will run like a publishing company where everybody has a role to play in the creation of a special book to be shared with younger students. Your challenge is to create a book to help younger students learn about scientists that are interesting. A person can be interesting for many reasons, they do something you like, the person reminds you of yourself or they did something amazing.

We will be using the scientists we researched and used for our mini-projects 3rd quarter as inspiration for the biographies written 4th quarter.

Learning Targets for the book
  • I can create a high quality, bound book with a cover
  • I can use the computers to make a visually appealing and organized report
  • I can describe scientists of different genders, races and areas of interest.
  • I can write about scientists in an engaging style that is appropriate for 5th to 7th graders
  • I can work with others to complete a long-term project.

These samples represent student work that received a passing grade. It does not mean they are perfect but they show the expected format, use of images and quotes, and individual student growth after edits and revisions.
Sample Bio 1.doc

Sample Bio2.doc

Requirements for the biography entry for the book.

___ Length 1 ½ to 2 full pages. Typed, 12pt, Arial, 1.5 spaced, double columns. Full justified.
Title Section
Scientist's name, dates of birth-dead centerd in 18pt Arial as the title above a photo of your scientist
a 3-5 bullet list of words or phrases that summarize your scientist's life and work. Examples: Animal lover, Education Supported, Doctor, Pioneer-
Body of the report
Section 1 will be a paragraph about three adjectives you think best describe your scientist.Section 2 will be a paragraph about their education.Sections 3-6 have 1-2 paragraphs each answering the note sheet questions (do not have to answer all )
  • What education did they have?
  • What are important lessons from their life?
  • Who influenced this scientist?
  • What are major events in their life?
  • How would the world be different if they never lived?
Additional Information
Quote from or about your scientist
Where could you go to find more information about this scientist?


==
==
Students are expected to complete 3 mini-projects 3rd quarter==

Projects are due BEFORE 3rd quarter finals.

Students are expected to choose two scientists from the master list (one male and one female); the third scientist can be anyone as long as you get Mrs. R's approval to research the person.
Students will be be given time to work on this project during SHAMWOW (1st block Science, Health And Math Workshops) as part of our reading and writing workshops. However students may have to do homework to complete the additional projects to earn an A or B grade.

You can find copies of the templates and worksheets used in class below.
Scientist Biography Menu.doc
This is the listing of the scientists and short summaries of the projects.

Scientist Mini.doc
This is a check off sheet with the steps students need to complete as they work on the project.

Biographical Notesheet.doc
This is a copy of the notesheet and bibliography that must be completed for ALL scientists.
General Project Rubric.doc
This is a copy of the general rubic for all projects. Be sure to check the rubic before submitting the project for grading
Project Peer Review.doc
This is the general peer review form. All projects must go through a peer review BEFORE submitting the completed project.

Expanded directions for Scientist Café

Appetizers

Louis Pasteur, Stephen Hawking, Edwin Hubble, Alfred Wegener, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Rutherford, Galileo Galilei, Michael Faraday, Dimitry Mendeleyeve, Neils Bhor, Thomas Edison, Alan Turing, Aristotle, Archimedes

Students are expected to do at least one project from the scientists listed at the beginning of this section. They may substitute other male scientists with Mrs R's approval.

  1. Timeline
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Identify 7-10 important dates or events in your scientist's life.
    3. There are three methods I would reccomend for creating the final timeline. You can choose what works best for you.

  1. Word Web
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a web that outlines the scientist’s life and research.

  1. Stamp
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. A "Commemorative Stamp" is one issued to honor a person or event.
      • Only events and themes with national significance which appeal to a broad range of people will be considered. Local and regional events are not eligible.
      • Go to http://library.thinkquest.org/2667/Blk_Hist.htm to see examples of commemorative stamps before you start planning your own stamp.
      • Final stamp should be at least 4x4 inches in size.

  1. Acrostic Poem Sliders
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. An acrostic poem is poem written so the first letters of each line spell out a word or name. 80% of the poem must have phrases or statements (cannot be all one word lines)

  1. Diary Entries
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. The diary entries should be written in the voice of the scientist and should represent three different time periods or events in their life. For example you might want to have a journal entry describing a day an important discovery was made, or write about a day that something bad or good happened.

Salad and Sandwiches

Students are expected to choose a scientist for this project that they have not already researched. Mrs. Ratelis needs to approve any scientists chosen for these projects.

  1. Bio Cube
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. All students must fill out the biocube-planning sheet. http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/bio_cube/bio-cube_planning.pdf
  2. Facebook Page
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a fake Facebook page for your scientist using the template. Include relevant images and appropriate quotes.
Fake Facebook-sci.doc
This is a template for the Fake Facebook Page
  1. Venn Diagram.
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist and another one for yourself.
    2. Create a Venn diagram comparing/contrasting yourself to a scientist.
    3. The completed chart should be typed or neatly printed for display and should contain at least 10 comparisons.

  1. Top Ten List
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a list of your choice for the top ten events in your scientist’s life.
    3. For each event give a short (1-3 sentences) summary with supporting details. Write for a 2nd grade audience. (May be a paper, PowerPoint or Promethean presentation)

  1. Comic Strip
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Illustrate scenes from the story of the person’s life in a comic strip.

  1. Flyer
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a flyer about your scientist.

Desserts

Barbara McClintock, Rosalind Franklin, Mary Leaky, Margaret Mead, Gertrude Elion, Joanne Simpson, Lise Meitner, Rosalyn Yalow, Dian Fossey, Irma Gigli, Ana Sol Gutierrez, Lissa Martinez, Antonia Novella, Adriana Ocampo, Ellen Ocha, Jewel Cobb, Jocelyn Elders, Shirley Jackson, Mae Jemison

Students are expected to choose from the scientists listed at the beginning of this section. They may substitute other female scientists with Mrs. R's approval.


  1. Bio Poem
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a Bio-Poem using the format shown below
      Line 1: Scientist's First first name
      Line 2: Who is...(Descriptive words that describe your scientist )
      Line 3: Who is brother or sister of...
      Line 4: Who loves...(three ideas or preople)
      Line 5: Who feels...(three ideas )
      Line 6: Who needs...(thre ideas)
      Line 7: Who gives...(three ideas)
      Line 8: Who fears...(three ideas)
      Line 9: Who would like to see...
      Line 10: Who shares...
      Line 11: Who is...
      Line 12: Who is a resident of...
      Line 13: Scientist's last name


  1. Quiz
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a quiz (10 questions) and answer key that relates to two Scientists
      • Quiz should have a mixture of T/F, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions.
      • Final presentation will be in an interactive format using PowerPoint or Promethean Active Inspire.

  1. Collage
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a collage to represent the life of a scientist
      • You may use magazines, words, photocopied pictures of your scientist and phrases or quotes from the person for this project. Images and words should relate to the scientist.
      • The final collage should be at least 6x6 but no bigger than 12x12.
      • Be prepared to give a brief oral presentation about your completed project

  1. Music
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Mrs. R has a CD with tracks of instrumental music you may use for your songs. Choose a track and write appropriate lyric to match.
      • If you want to use a different music source Mrs. R must pre-approve the music.
      • The Lyrics must be informational and school appropriate. See Mrs. R for examples of “educational lyrics”.
  2. Trading Card
    1. Complete the Biographical Notesheet and bibliography for your scientist.
    2. Create a trading card to highlight the information about this person’s importance in history.